Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez denied that he cried with joy after Edwin Cardona's stoppage-time goal to give Colombia a 3-2 win over Bolivia in World Cup qualifying on Thursday, but admitted he was close to tears.
The 24-year-old said that it was an emotional moment after seeing his team's two-goal advantage disappear when Bolivia scored two second-half goals to tie the match.
"I was really tired and that 2-2 was very fair," Rodriguez told ESPN. "But when Edwin scored the goal, well it was something very special."
Colombia led after 41 minutes thanks to similar left-footed strikes from Rodriguez and Carlos Bacca, but the hosts wouldn't be held down in the altitude of La Paz, hitting back five minutes after the break through a Juan Arce penalty, and 12 minutes later from an unstoppable Alejandro Chumacero shot from outside the box.
But the Colombians would not be denied on the day, and it was Cardona who finished off a sweeping counter-attack with a well-placed finish into the bottom-right corner of Romel Quinonez's net.
"This was a tough match but when you want to win this is what happens," Rodriguez said. "We were playing good and then in the last 10 minutes we got it done. We all did an excellent job, the result was fair and I am very happy about it."
Asked whether he felt vindicated after being the target of criticism from Real Madrid reporters and fans for fitness concerns, Rodriguez said he was not thinking about it.
"[The first-half goals] were a good sign that we [Carlos and I] have been playing well," he said. "People will always talk. I just try to train every day as hard as I can. What people comment outside of the game does not matter to me I just try to work hard and play well and help so that we can all win.
"I always want to win, I always want to help the team. Here, I am just one more player. I am here to help and make sure that we win. In the last 10 minutes I was exhausted, but I wanted to help."
Colombia coach Jose Pekerman singled out Rodriguez after the match, saying: "He's a true leader, not just with football talent but also with commitment."
He said that scoring two goals in the first 45 minutes became important, especially as the altitude took its toll.
"The first half went exactly to plan, we knew this was going to be a long match and that we would struggle. We finished the half with a key lead, but Bolivia reacted well and that made the win more complicated for us," the Argentine said. "I knew that we had a chance to win, even though Bolivia were playing well. But it was clear to me that we could score at the end and we did because our players gave it their all."
The win gives Colombia seven points from five games, while the loss keeps Bolivia on three points. Colombia, Brazil and Chile all have seven points.
Ecuador, the leaders in South American qualifying, salvaged a 2-2 draw with Paraguay now improving to 13 points in five matches
"It would be great to beat them. We will have to play hard," Rodriguez said of Tuesday's rivals, Ecuador.